HOSTEing Laura Jackson

For the final episode of season one, Laura speaks to Irish-born Creative Director and founder of her eponymous brand, Fiona Leahy Design, Fiona Leahy who has designed parties most of us could only dream of. Having made the jump from fashion to party planning 13 years ago, her catalogue of conquests and events stretch from Dita Von Teese and Marilyn Manson’s wedding to a Yayoi Kusama event for Louis Vuitton and Nat Rothchilds 40th birthday in Montenegro. If you have ever come across an event or tablescape image where your heart literally skips a beat, Fiona was probably the mastermind behind it. From tablescapes and machimalism, to pilgrimages through Peru in the name of rattan placemats and a solo meal to die for, this final episode really is the cherry on top and full to bursting with great travel and interior tips, and exactly where to go to kit out your own table wardrobe. 
 

Antiques:
Talisman - Interiors emporium
Circus Antiques - Great 70’s stuff
Retrouvious

Markets:
Ardingly Market (Ardingly International Antiques & Collection Fairs)
Porte de Clignancourt - Paris Flea Market
Portobello market - vintage napkins

Interiors and Tables:
Soho Home
Merci Paris - Sheets
H&M Home - winter table cloth
Zara Home
The Cloth Shop - Table cloth
Onces Milano
Heather Taylor Home - LA
Espelma -  Candles
Liberty - Homeware
VV Ruveux - Ribbon
Scarlet and Violet - Florist

Restaurants:
Lima in London
Central in Lima in Peru - Altitude menu

Hosting us this week at his favourite Soho haunt is the wonderfully quick witted Raven Smith. Raven’s instagram is a firm fan favourite, offering up a hilarious running commentary on the goings on of everyday life - his charm and quick witted journalism has earned him a place as a contributor at British Vogue and the columnist Sunday times style as well as paving the way to his newest accreditation: Author of the autobiographical "Raven Smith’s Trivial Pursuit". Together, Laura and Raven jump from holiday homes in France to fish finger taco parties in London and drinking mezcal in Mexico at 11:00am. A ‘casual saver’ - more to come on this - Raven is currently renovating his house with his husband, whose relationship can be benchmarked through multiple signature "Raven" dishes. 

New Yorker encyclopedia of cooking - The ‘Club’ Sandwich

For the Book:
Contramar - Mexico
Chiltern Firehouse - London
Brasserie Zedel - Lunch
Quo Vadis - Lunch/Dinner
Duck Soup - Dinner
Little Duck - The Picklery - Dinner

For the travel diary:
Big Blue Hole - Belize
Mazunte - Oachatan
Edition Hotel
Soho House Hotels
Casa Tiny

Hosting us in their luxurious Zetter London penthouse suit and giving us all itchy feet are Tammy and James Lohan founders of the global travel club Mr and Mrs Smith. Since they founded it in 2003 their iconic site has grown to encompass over a million members and for good reason. From trialling out spa's for first date locations, camping, cruising, travelling sustainably and working as a Husband and Wife duo - this week we learn the true meaning of what it is to wolladay!

For the Book: 
The Capella - Singapore - BRUNCH
Es Torrent, Ibiza - LUNCH
Post Ranch Inn, Big Sur, California - DINNER
Morkuru - watching the Whales
Ca's Xorc, Mallorca

Travel destinations and hotels:
Tbilsisi, Georgia - (Up and Coming Destination) 
Comporta, Portugal (Destination)
São lourenço Do Barrocal, Portugal (Hotel)
Uxua Casa Hotel, Bahia, Brazil (Hotel) 
Castello di Reschio, Reskia, Umbria
The Pig Hotel's, The UK 
The Dutchess, New York
Casa Fortunato, Lisbon
The Hurtinggruten Ships - Cruise through the Nordic Fjords 
Caledonian Sleeper - Sleeper train to Scotland 
Trans Siberian Express - Train across Siberia
The Madonna Inn - San Luis Obispo, California

Hosteing us in her east london studio and creative food space this week is food writer, food stylist, chef and all round brilliant woman - Anna Jones. Trailblazer in celebrating modern day vegetarianism, we discuss the sometimes tricky veggie/vegan terrain and how her books have become culinary bibles for home cooks. A ceramic fanatic, we learn of Anna's favourite brands and places to buy, her love for food styling what it was like to train with Jamie Oliver on his programme Fifteen.

For the book:
Pophams
Sqirl in LA - Brunch 
Spring - lunch
Lardo - Dinner East london

Interiors and ceramics:
Turning Earth - ceramics
Pip Heartal
Nom 

This week prolific documentary maker, author, MBE and winner of strictly, and self proclaimed terrible cook, Stacey Dooley hosts us at her favourite local cafe, Haminados in West London. Together Laura and Stacey discuss counting tea bags on the front line to what you eat on death row and the necessary need for boundaries and how sometimes a staycation is the perfect holiday when your work takes you to far flung corners of the world.

For the book: 
Hoppers in Soho 
The Oak
The Marksman
Raouls - NY 

From the days of 20 denier tights and serving the royals and Sting with Admirable Chrighton, to pregnancy announcements and elaborately planned weekend escapes Laura and this weeks guest (and very good friend) Daisy Hoppen discuss the full spectrum of what it is to Hoste. With wine in one hand and Mescal in the other we learn of Daisy's company DHPR - which represents brands such as Molly Goddard, Vampires Wife, Aesop, Shrimps and most famously Ganni whose house parties are legendary - the family dinner table dynamics in the Hoppen household and Daisy's dining hitlist.
 

For the book:
The Brunswick East - Brunch 
Rochelle Canteen - Lunch
Sushi Park - Dinner LA
Deliveroo on the Sofa - Dinner London

“What are you doing here?!” - Leandra Medine

The second episode of the podcast series HOSTEing Laura Jackson sees Laura crossing the pond and taking a trip to downtown New York where she is hosted by author, journalist, mother wife and native New Yorker - Leandra Medine - most commonly known as fan favourite who ignited the empire that is Man Repeller. Leandra invites Laura into Man Repeller HQ where the pair discuss travel destinations, Irish goodbyes and French Exits, the ever evolving New York restaurant scene, Leandra's firm and favourable fashion taste and how that has influenced her interiors. Leandra also talks about her desire and struggle to become a mother, New York parties and her mother's Shabbat dinners - where it all began! 
 

For the little black book:

Katz Deli

Russ and Daughters Cafe - Brunch

Sadelle's - Brunch

Le Bilbouquet - Lunch

Serafina - Lunch

Balthazar - Lunch

Welcoming us from her mum's living room to her world of HOSTEing is English singer-songwriter, and co-host of hit podcast Table Manners, Jessie Ware. With cake for breakfast and a cup of tea in hand Jessie and Laura discuss everything from motherhood and success (and a dishwashers relevance to it) to husbands who dislike meals out, the trials and tribulations of renovating in a conservation area. Jessie talks of what it's like to host some of the biggest names and famous faces, and how to handle it when it does wrong. Throw in a surprise guest (which we have) and this light and chatty conversation is a perfect kick off to the season. 

For the book: 

AllPress - Brunch 

Esters - Brunch 

Russ & Daughters - Brunch (NYC)

Brat  - Lunch and Dinner 

ROVI - Lunch and Dinner 

Clipstone - Lunch and Dinner